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Canada Joins International Convention on Nuclear Liability

December 3, 2013 - Vienna, Austria - The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), today announced that Canada has signed the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, bringing the treaty another step closer toward full ratification. She made the announcement during a signing ceremony in Vienna alongside Alexander Bychkov, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Deputy Director General and Head, Department of Nuclear Energy.

“As part of our government’s commitment to the establishment of a global nuclear liability regime, Canada is pleased to be signing the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage,” said Minister Yelich. “We will now take the necessary steps to bring forward domestic legislation that strengthens Canada’s nuclear liability regime and is in line with current international standards.”

Joining the IAEA convention complements new measures that the Government of Canada will introduce in Parliament in the coming months to strengthen Canada’s nuclear liability legislation. The replacement of the Nuclear Liability Act with stronger, up-to-date legislation is the final element in creating a modern nuclear legislative framework for Canada, following enactment of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act.

“Nuclear energy is a key part of Canada’s energy mix and a major contributor to our status as a world leader in clean electricity,” said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources. “Our Government is committed to supporting a strong and safe nuclear industry in Canada. We will soon introduce legislation to increase absolute nuclear civil liability to $1 billion to protect the taxpayer and the safety of all Canadians.”

Canada’s nuclear industry generates well over $5 billion in electricity annually and accounts for approximately $1 billion a year in uranium exports. This industry already supports more than 30,000 jobs across Canada.